Thumb rest and stroke-control device for golf clubs



Dec. 11, 192 Y I 1,694,992

- R. F. STOEFFLER THUMB REST AND STROKE CONTROL DEVICE FOR GOLF CLUBS Filed May 10, 1928 I 3110911100 R. E $302,720).

Patented Dec. 11, 1928.

PATENT oF IcE.

RALPH F. STOEFFLER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

THUMB BEST AND STROKE-CONTROL DEVICE FOR GOLF CLUBS.

application filed May 10, 1928. Serial No. 276,701.

The invention relates to an attachment for the handles of golf clubs and provides means whereby the club may be kept under full conmake a satisfactory trol while in the act of hitting theball, and whereby the player is enabled to grasp the handle of the club at the same location for each'stroke, and that will prevent rotation of the club in the hands when it is brought back over the shoulders for the final swing thus insuring engagement of the head of the club with the ball in a proper posit-ion to stroke and to prevent slicing the ball. To this end the invention comprises an attachment consisting of a plate to be secured to the handle of the golf club and having an integral lateral projection formed with a concaved engaging surface for the thumb of the lower hand grasping the club handle, said attachment by being engaged by the thumb serving to offset the force of .the blow on the face of the driving head of the club to keep the shaft from rotating in the hands as heretofore stated.

The invention will be described in detail hereinafter and will be found illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure -1 is a view in perspective of a golf club showing the thumb rest and stroke control device in position thereon,

Figure 2 is a View on an enlarged scale of the handle of the golf club showing the right hand of a player in position engaging the attachment, I c

Figure 3 is a fragmental detail of the handle in plan, showing the attachment applied thereto, 1

-Figu re 4 is a rear plan view of the device attached to the club handle,

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view on a plane indicated by the line 55 of Figure 3, and

Figure 6 is a plan view of the attachment.

In the drawings similar reference characters are used to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

In Figure 1 of" the drawings the attachment designated 1 is shown secured to the handle 2 of a driver but it will be apparent that the device may be applied to any other of the golf clubs used in laying the game the purpose of the device ein'g to properly position the hands of the player on the bandle 2"and to provide a means comprisingthe attachment, engaged by the thumb of the lower hand of the player to prevent rotation of the club handle in the players hand when the club is brought back over the shoulder preceding making the stroke, and also .to

firmly hold the handle and prevent rotation thereof when the head 3 of the club engages the ball to prevent slicing the ball in making the stroke.

The handles illustrated in Figures 2, 3, 4, and 5 may be the handles of any of the clubs used in playing the ame of golf, it being understood that while the handles in these figures are also designated 2 they refer to the handles of any clubs used for playing the game. The attachment comprises a plate 4 having projections or extensions 5, 6, and 7 from the edges of the plate and provided with'openings as shown to receive screws or other driven fastenings to secure the plate on the handle 2, said plate being concaved as shown in Figure 5 to fit the curvature of the handle. Extending laterally from the plate 4 is an integral projection 8 that is tapered from the head of the handle as shown at 9 outwardly and has its widest portion as at 10 remote from the head of the handle. The projection 8 is concaved as shown at 11 to form a rest for the ball of the thumb of the lower hand of the player grasping the club,

and as heretofore stated the projection 8 serves to definitely position the hands of the player on the club handle 2 at all times in the same position, and gives a purchase to the lower hand of the player to prevent rotary movement of the handle in the players hands when swinging the-club back over the shoulder preparatory to making the stroke and when hitting the ball to insure properly positioning the head 3 when the stroke is made. The projection or extension 7 extends for an appreciable distance beyond the lower end of the projection 8 and thereby forms a brace for the attachment.

The device as illustrated in the drawings ma be made of any suitable material prefera' 1y aluminum because of the desire to not add to the weight of the 01f club more than is necessary,and it will furthermore understood that the attachment may be made in for engagement by the thumb of a player, 10 rights and lofts to accommodate its use on and the plate being provided with extensions clubs for either right or left handed players. in its edge having openings to receive secur- What is claimed is I ing members, one of said extensions being 5 A thumb rest and stroke control device for elongated and extending an appreciable disgolf clubs, comprising a concaved plate tance beyond the concaved lateral projection l adapted to be secured -toa golf club, an inteaforesaid. gral lateral projection on said plate, said pro- In testimony whereof I aflix m si ature. ection having a concaved face and adapted RALPH F. STO F ER. 

